GEORGE TOWN: Give us due recognition for efforts in funding vernacular schools in Penang, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said, after being snubbed by Putrajaya-leaning Tamil schools.
He said certain Tamil schools’ management were pandering to the Federal Government, in hopes of “uninterrupted” funding.
“It is saddening that certain schools have no respect for the state government, despite us providing yearly funds.
“But they seemingly forget it was us that provided land and local government approvals to have their buildings constructed
“Give us the due respect and recognition, for we have done well by approving a record number of Tamil schools in the state.
“We are not demanding for respect but give us the due respect. We are not that bad,” he told teachers and headmasters of Tamil and Punjabi medium schools in Penang at Komtar today.
Earlier, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Ramasamy presented a donation of RM260,000 to the Tamil primary schools and kindergartens; and Punjabi schools in Penang.
In his speech, Ramasamy related his experience attending the groundbreaking ceremony for a Tamil school in Permatang Tinggi, near Kepala Batas, he was invited to last week.
He said he was under the impression that he was there to open the school, since he was the deputy chief minister.
“When I went there, there was a big banner with the prime minister’s picture. Alright, that is fine, he is the PM after all.
“But what is wrong in perhaps a picture of the chief minister (Lim Guan Eng). Is he not handsome enough?”
Ramasamy said the programme began with a speech by a BN-linked NGO president, despite him being the only representative from the state government.
“Next moment you know, in the programme, there was no opportunity for me to give a speech on behalf of the state government. I politely bowed out and left.
“This is unfortunate as we have been fighting for Chinese and Tamil schools all this while.
“We have given land with fast approval and I am certain no other state government has assisted Tamil schools like Penang.”